Another major crypto platform is pulling back from Russia. HTX, the exchange linked to Justin Sun (@justinsuntron), has added Russia to its list of restricted jurisdictions, following similar moves by @MEXC and @bitget in October.

What HTX has changed

The restrictions apply to users located in or accessing the platform from Russia, as set out in HTX's updated User Agreement. The same applies to companies registered in Russia or carrying out most of their business there. The exchange reserves the right to restrict access to its products, limit withdrawals and close the accounts of restricted users.

The timing of the change is unclear. ETHNews reports the restrictions appear to have been in place since September 2026. The policy drew wider attention after Russian business outlet RBC reported it on October 23. HTX has not publicly set a universal withdrawal deadline or clarified how the provision applies to every existing account.

Russia joins other jurisdictions already on HTX's restricted list, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Singapore.

Bitget and MEXC set the pace

The moves by Bitget and MEXC came days earlier. On October 16, Bitget updated its terms of use and added Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to its list of prohibited countries. The Moscow Times reports Bitget barred affected customers from opening new trades and using new products from October 18.

MEXC announced its withdrawal from Russia and Belarus on October 20. The exchange said affected users will receive individual notifications on timelines and the procedure for closing positions and withdrawing assets. MEXC said the decision was driven by the need to comply with global regulatory requirements.

The sanctions backdrop is significant for HTX in particular. The UK designated Huobi Global S.A. in May, while the EU introduced further measures in July targeting crypto-related financial activity connected to Russia. The Moscow Times notes the EU sanctioned HTX earlier this year for allegedly helping Russians evade sanctions.

Industry figures see a wider trend. Nikita Zuborev, senior analyst at comparison service BestChange, told RBC that the threat of secondary sanctions and rising compliance costs were making Russian customers increasingly risky for international exchanges.

Not every major platform has acted in the same way, and the exchanges have not all given the same reasons or timelines, so the picture for individual Russian users will vary by platform and account.

Sources

CoinGape: HTX joins Bitget and MEXC in restricting services for Russian users

The Moscow Times: Bitget, MEXC end services for customers in Russia and Belarus

ETHNews: HTX Russia restrictions follow UK and EU sanctions pressure